“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” –Matthew 11:28

For many people, summer is the season of escape. Families travel to the beach, the mountains, or even to a different country. It’s time to get away.

For the men and women in our shelters, however, such travel is often not an option. Our Women’s Mission takes a yearly trip to the beach, and our Men’s Mission occasionally goes to baseball games.

Beyond these short trips, most of our guests spend nearly all of their time at the shelters, doing the difficult work of recovery.

The Piano Man’s Journey

Antoine Cameron began playing piano at the age of five. A few years later, he was traveling with different gospel groups, performing on stage for 5–6 hours at a time. That’s where he first came in contact with cocaine. One of his bandmates said it would help him stop feeling tired. Antoine was 10 years old.

Antoine’s drug addiction did not stop him from excelling musically or academically, and he graduated with an advanced degree in behavioral sciences. He also volunteered at HELP Ministries and performed for years at church and local clubs.

In 2015, Antoine’s wife passed away, and he fell into a deep depression. He traveled south to Florida, stopping at Targets and Walmarts along the way, where he would play for some additional cash.

When Antoine returned to the Harrisburg area to claim his social security benefits, he ultimately relapsed and subsequently attempted suicide. He was committed to Tower Behavioral Health in Reading, PA.

After being released, Antoine briefly stayed with his daughter before coming to Bethesda Mission.

Being Still at Bethesda

We have created areas that promote quiet self-reflection, namely a soundproofed library and the chapel at our Men’s Mission, as well as a sunroom and an outdoor fire pit at our Women’s Mission. Antoine spends much of his free time at the chapel piano.

“I find rest in the structure itself,” Antoine shared. “The consistency. The curriculum. You never have to worry about what you are going to eat. You know that you can sleep. The necessities are taken care of.”

That being said, Antoine also knows that real rest comes from the Lord. “Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from him” (Psalm 62:1-2).

“I’m waiting on what God would have me do,” Antoine elaborated. “In knowing Christ, I can accept that He paid it all. [Because of that], my mind and spirit can be renewed.”

Antoine plans on providing for his daughter and continuing to use his gift to serve God when he eventually leaves the Mission. “God has been blessing me,” he reflected. “Every door has been opened.”

For now, Antoine is working with the Men’s Mission choir and playing at Friday Night Fires (services led by one of our staff members). You can watch him perform on our YouTube channel.

Thank you for providing us with the opportunity to serve men like Antoine. Your gifts are critical to helping those in need, especially since we receive no government funding.
May God richly bless you!

Scott Dunwoody
Executive Director